Names used with prior permission and consent.
“As the saying goes - in a championship match (or a job interview), there is no prize for the runner-up. With all the finalists being highly qualified, and the margin between getting the job or not being so thin, effective mentoring such as that provided by Dr. Toll undoubtedly made the difference in my success. Dr. Toll is a supportive, caring and effective mentor and provided me with essential practical advice, tips for effective interviewing, and above all, a full set of tools for connecting with the search committee members. His advice and support made a huge difference in my interview success and my career overall.”
“Anyone thinking about or seeking a top level academic position ought to seek assistance from a mentor who has gone through the process. Dr. Ron Toll is that mentor. Through Curriculum Vitae preparation and extensive mock interviews, Dr. Toll ensured that I was well prepared to apply for a top-level position in higher education. I strongly believe that my preparation helped me in attaining that position. Through Ron’s mentoring I learned how to read a position description more critically and to tailor my vitae/experience to the position requirements. His goal is to assist you in preparing a package that gets you to the initial interview. Then, he also takes you through a series of in-depth mock interviews that focus on the types of complex questions you are likely to encounter during the interview process and coaches you in how best to respond to fully showcase your abilities.”
“Dr. Toll is a truly excellent mentor for aspiring academic administrators at all levels. His knowledge of how the hiring process works is unparalleled. He worked with me intensively to ensure I was fully prepared for interviews; helping me to anticipate questions, develop engaging talking points for different types of audiences, as well as to identify areas of particular strength and to head off points of potential weakness within my own candidacy. He also helped me to develop strategies for negotiating the specifics of job offers which lead to a starting salary well in excess of the initial offer. I have no doubt that my success in obtaining my dream position within the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University was a direct result of his insight and guidance. ”
“ Dr. Toll and I worked together when I was applying for my first permanent dean position. The advice that he gave to me on interviewing directly translated into my success on the job market. He coached me such that I could anticipate lines of questioning, refine my answers, and present the best that I had to offer. The advice that he offered on dealing with multiple stakeholders was especially important. It really helped me navigate the multi-day interview process. I highly recommend his services, especially for someone who is advancing in administrative ranks.”
“Dr. Toll’s expert guidance at each stage of the application and interview process, gave me solid and practical advice as well as encouragement when I needed it. I credit him with the fact that for every on-campus interview to which I was invited, I received an offer of employment! Made me feel great!!”
“Dr. Toll provided great advice and counsel. He has broad, practical insight into the workings of higher education and helping people leverage their strengths to prepare for and find the right position. His experience in hiring hundreds of administrators and faculty at different institutions and mentoring many candidates to successful outcomes was evident in all of our interactions and was extremely valuable in the preparation process.”
“Thank you, Dr. Toll, for helping me navigate my recent new-job contract negotiation, counteroffer negotiation, and overall professional development. Your advice was extremely constructive, producing dramatic results that went well beyond what I could have expected when I began the process with you.
When I began, I did not understand the negotiation process. This was where Dr. Toll’s experience and advice became so valuable. He showed me how to use different negotiation strategies, which significantly improved the salary, compensation, and professional opportunities offered to me. He also helped me recognize warning signs in the negotiation process that could reflect future issues. Dr. Toll’s mentorship was critical. Dr. Toll helped me negotiate a 29% increase in my salary. More importantly, he helped me secure a whopping 308% increase in my office’s operating budget. I cannot say thank you enough. Dr. Toll’s help in the negotiation process is the reason that I decided to stay and continue my administrative career at my home institution.”